The Best Google Pixel Phones of 2025, Tested and Reviewed: Which Model to Buy, Cases and Accessories, Feature Drops

Google Pixel phones are our favorite Android phones here at WIRED and have been for a few years. They have industry-leading cameras, get speedy software and security updates directly from Google (like iPhones do from Apple), and are priced competitively. But which of the new Google Pixel phones should you buy? The Pixel 9a? The Pixel 10? What about the crazy-expensive Pixel 10 Pro Fold? Don’t fret—I'll break down the differences between the best Pixel phones and sort out the right one for you.

You'll also find Pixel-exclusive tips to help you get the most out of your new phone, plus some accessory and case recommendations for protection. For more, read our other mobile guides, including the Best Pixel 9 Cases, Best Samsung Phones, and Best Android Phones.

Updated August 2025: We’ve mentioned the new Pixel 10 series, added info about older A-series battery issues, Qi2, /e/OS, and added new software features in Pixel phones.

Google just announced the Pixel 10 series, and they're the first flagship Android phones with Qi2 magnets—just like Apple's iPhones, you can magnetically connect them to Qi2 and MagSafe accessories, like chargers, wallets, grips, and more. Google has a few first-party accessories launching—the Pixelsnap Charger, Pixelsnap Charger With Stand, Pixelsnap Ring Stand, and Pixelsnap cases—and we'll be evaluating them all as we test the phones.

You can read about all the specs and new features available in the Pixel 10 series here, including all the top AI capabilities, but here's a quick summary: The Pixel 10's most notable improvement is the addition of a 5X optical zoom camera, effectively giving it a triple-camera system. It also has a brighter screen, and the top speaker has been upgraded for better bass and overall audio quality.

The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL have a newer imaging pipeline, so while the camera sensors are the same as their predecessors, you should still see better results. These phones have an exclusive feature called Pro Res Zoom, which lets you get super-sharp photos at 100X zoom. They're also the only Pixels that can capture 8K video, thanks to Google's Video Boost processing tech. The screens are brighter, they have bigger batteries than before, and they charge faster. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the only one of the lot that supports the latest Qi2 25W charging standard, meaning it can charge faster wirelessly with an appropriate Qi2 25W charger.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has improved durability due to a new gearless hinge system and strengthened display, and Google claims it can withstand 10-plus years of folding. It's also one of the first folding phones with a proper IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating, matching most candybar phones. There are some multitasking software improvements, but otherwise, not much is new with this phone. The cameras still aren't up to the quality of the Pro models, which is a bummer.

One important bit to note: In the US, the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL have officially ditched the physical SIM card, like iPhones. That means you'll have to use eSIM technology.

We're testing the Pixel 10 phones, so stay tuned for our full review. If you can't wait, there are some preorder promotions to consider. While you can probably find good deals at your carrier, we always recommend buying an unlocked phone. As always, you're able to trade in your device at select retailers for a small discount; just check their respective requirements.

Pricing for the phones hasn't changed. The Pixel 10 is $799, the Pixel 10 Pro is $999, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL is $1,199 (it technically costs more, but now comes with 256 GB of storage as default, matching the price of last year's equivalent). The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is $1,799. Official sales kick off on August 28, though the Pixel 10 Pro Fold arrives later, on October 9.

Google’s Pixel 9a (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is all the phone most people need. The 6.3-inch screen might not be as compact as its predecessor, but it doesn't feel too big. There's a new design to give the A series its own look, though the iris and peony colors are doing some heavy lifting. In black or white, it's fairly dull. At least you get a camera module that doesn't stick out.

The OLED screen gets brighter than ever, and it has a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for those fluid animations (something Apple still limits to its Pro iPhones). Google's Tensor G4 chipset powers it all, the same as in the flagship Pixel 9 series. And performance is pretty much identical—smooth and fast, whether gaming or multitasking.

The caveat is that the Pixel 9a has only 8 gigabytes of RAM, so two Pixel 9 features aren't present: the Pixel Screenshots app, which uses AI to organize your screenshots, and Call Notes, which provides a text summary of your phone calls. Those are helpful features, so it's a shame they're unavailable, but it's not a deal breaker.

Otherwise, you get all the same camera features from the flagship lineup, including Add Me, Reimagine, Best Take, and the improved Audio Magic Eraser. Speaking of, the 48-megapixel is joined by a 13-MP ultrawide and a 13-MP selfie camera, and they're all reliable. Like most Pixel phones, you can feel safe knowing most of the pictures you snap will come out looking great.

The best upgrade is battery life. The 5,100-mAh cell comfortably lasts a full day. I routinely ended my nights with 30 to 40 percent remaining, though heavy users may still need to tote a power bank just in case. There's Qi wireless charging and an improved IP68 water-resistance rating, not to mention secure face unlock in addition to fingerprint unlock, giving you two biometric authentication methods to unlock your phone and quickly access sensitive apps.

The Pixel 9a also gets seven years of software support—the longest you'll find on an Android phone under $500. All of that for $499? It's one of the best smartphone bargains around.

Note: I recommend holding off on purchasing a Pixel 9 Pro or 9 Pro XL until reviews of the Pixel 10 Pro series arrive.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are a decent step up from the Pixel 9a and firmly put you in flagship territory. You get more features, better build quality, more cameras, nicer specs—you get the idea. This is the first time you have size options for the Pro models, and they are the same phone no matter which you choose, barring battery and screen size. The 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro is my favorite, as it has all the Pro features I want in a compact package, but if you prefer a big-screen experience, opt for the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL.

On the hardware front, these Pixels have LTPO displays, meaning the screen can refresh from as little as 1 Hz to 120 Hz, making them power-efficient. They're also the brightest OLED panels on a Pixel to date, and I had no trouble reading them on sunny days. Between the two, the Pixel 9 Pro XL can charge faster, getting roughly 70 percent in 30 minutes, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro will sit at around 55 percent in the same period. A bigger 5,060-mAh battery means better battery life too, and the XL model regularly had a little more juice at the end of the day. Neither phone will last two days on a single charge with heavy use, but both will get you through a full day.

Other small improvements? Google has swapped the optical fingerprint sensor for an ultrasonic scanner, which has been far more reliable in my testing. (You still get access to secure face unlock.) There's also DisplayPort support, so you can plug these Pixels into external displays to mirror the screen. You still get Qi wireless charging, but sadly, Google has not yet adopted the Qi2 standard, which would have enabled a MagSafe-like magnetic charging system. (It's available in the Pixel 10.)

The main distinction between these and any other Pixel phones in this guide is the vapor chamber cooling system in the Pixel 9 Pro models. This is a fairly common feature on high-end smartphones, and it helps dissipate heat. Less heat means the phone's Tensor G4 processor won't throttle and limit performance. I noticed this immediately after playing Zenless Zone Zero for two hours, which resulted in a lukewarm Pixel 9 Pro XL despite running the game at max graphics settings; I didn't see many stutters. It was the opposite story on the base Pixel 9, which does not have this cooling system; it got really hot and stuttered more frequently. If you're an avid gamer, or if you've used Pixel phones in the past and noticed how hot they get, it's worth snagging the Pro.

The cameras are where the Pixel 9 Pro phones shine. You get a 50-MP main camera, a 48-MP ultrawide, and a 48-MP 5X telephoto zoom. Even the selfie camera has been upgraded to 42 MP, and this produces noticeably sharper selfies than any other Pixel that came before. I dive deep into the changes Google has made to the Pixel 9 series' image-processing algorithms here, including Real Tone, the tech that enables more accurate skin tones in photos and videos.

The TL;DR? It's an excellent camera system that rivals the top of the line in the smartphone world. But many of the AI camera tricks steal the spotlight. There's Add Me, for example: You take a picture of your loved one in front of a landmark, they swap places to take a picture of you, and then a single image is generated that looks as though you both were standing next to each other. Auto Frame generates outside areas of a photo to change the composition, and Reimagine lets you type in text to drastically alter an image. You can even change a daylight photo to nighttime! It's pretty nuts, and I go into more detail here.

Let's not forget the new AI features launching on these phones, like the Pixel Screenshots app, which can help you find exactly what you're looking for, even if you have thousands of screenshots with a quick search. Pixel Studio can help you create a custom party invite with stickers of your friends' faces and AI-generated images. (I use it more than I expected to.) Then there's Gemini Live, which lets you have real-time natural conversations with the chatbot in a somewhat evolved Google Search experience. There's plenty here to help make everyday life a tiny bit easier, though there will be times when you'll wonder whether every app needs an AI infusion.

Like the Pixel 9a, Google has a software commitment of seven years for these phones, outclassing all its Android peers (save the Samsung Galaxy S25 series). Check out our Pixel 9 case recommendations to make sure your device lasts that long unscathed.

Note: I recommend holding off on purchasing a Pixel 9 until reviews of the Pixel 10 arrive.

The Pixel 9 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is an excellent phone, but within the context of Google's lineup, it's in an awkward spot. It looks distinct enough from the Pixel 9a, but you're not going to see a massive difference between them despite the price gap. The screen brightness is the same, the Pixel 9a has better battery life, though the Pixel 9 does offer slightly faster charging. While performance is mostly equal, the increased 12 GB of RAM enables features like Call Notes and the Pixel Screenshots app, plus any future AI feature that requires the extra memory.

The biggest upgrades are in the camera system: The 50-MP main camera and 48-MP ultrawide will deliver sharper results, though you may have to analyze photos side by side to notice. Even better is the 10.5-MP selfie camera, which features autofocus for sharper images. The lack of a 5X optical zoom camera and the vapor cooling system found on the Pixel 9 Pro models also make it tough to recommend for pro users. So give the Pixel 9a a shot and save some cash.

Note: I recommend holding off on purchasing a Pixel 9 until reviews of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold arrive.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold might not have received a very high score in my review (6/10, WIRED Recommends), but that's largely because I want Google to match this $1,800 phone's hardware to what you're getting with the $999 Pixel 9 Pro, and exceed it. As it stands, there are a few things the Pixel 9 Pro does better—for example, the photos snapped by the telephoto and ultrawide cameras are not as sharp in low light compared to the cheaper flagship. If you're spending $1,800 on a Pixel 9 Pro Fold, shouldn't it be better in every way than the Pixel 9 Pro?

Leaving that aside, this is still the best book-like folding phone available right now (though Honor is giving Google a run for its money outside the US). I prefer it over Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold6, largely because the 6.3-inch front screen feels nearly identical to the Pixel 9 Pro. It's thinner and lighter than its predecessor, all of which helps make this phone more usable when it's folded. (And believe me, you'll be using it 80 percent of the time in its folded state.)

But when you open it up, you get a large 8-inch OLED screen that almost feels like a more compact iPad Mini. This screen is great for running two apps side by side in split-screen mode, or for watching shows, YouTube, and playing games. You may have to play around with the aspect ratios for some apps, as some content might get cut off, but this is easy to change in the phone's settings.

Battery life is reliable enough, lasting a full day of average use with around 30 percent left. (This will vary if you use the 8-inch screen more often than the exterior one.) It's worth noting that you may run into some issues with wireless charging on this device. It doesn't work with Google's now-discontinued Pixel Stand Gen 2 because the coils do not align. I tried it on a few other wireless charging stands to no effect. Your best bet is to use a wireless charging pad.

You get all the same software features as the Pixel 9 series, but there are some extras to take advantage of all the screens. Made You Look, for example, plays a cute animation on the outer screen to make sure your kiddo stares at it when you're trying to capture a photo. When you're on a Google Meet call, you can now utilize all the screens so that everyone around you can see the person you're speaking with, and that means using all the cameras too, so the person on the other end doesn't have to see just your face.

At the end of the day, this is still a $1,799 smartphone, and that's just too high a price to pay. But if you have the cash and love folding phones, especially when paired with a Pixel's smarts and camera prowess, this is one of the best options available.

I've written a broader guide on the Best Pixel 9 Cases and Accessories here, but here are a few selections for your perusal. We'll be testing cases for the Pixel 10 series soon.

This silicone case lets you match your Pixel phone's color. It's durable and nice to touch, with raised edges on the front to protect the screen. It's made with recycled plastics, and while the older cases attract lint and dust easily, this revamped case does a better job of resisting them. I also like that it keeps the back flush, so the camera bump isn't so obvious. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold case is made of a hard-shell polycarbonate, but it's fairly slim and lightweight compared to third-party cases I've tested. Access to the buttons is open, and I like how it gives you an easier way to unfold the phone.

This is our favorite case overall for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8A series. It has clicky buttons and incredibly grippy edges (hence the name). It feels robust yet fairly slim, and you can choose a snazzy design. Just know that you have to apply this “skin” to the back of the case. There's a lot of room for error here, so be careful, and watch Dbrand's installation video for tips. There's MagSafe support so you can use your Pixel with MagSafe accessories, and it worked exceptionally in my testing.

This is hands-down the best case if you frequently attach your Pixel to the handlebars of a bike or an electric scooter. Peak Design's mounting system lets you magnetically affix the phone to its Universal Bike Mount ($50), and it stays put. After nearly a year of testing, I've yet to have a phone fall off my ride using this mounting system. It makes use of Apple's MagSafe system, so it works with plenty of MagSafe accessories, even wireless chargers. The company also has several other magnetic accessories, like a car vent mount. The case itself is nice; I just wish the edges were raised more for better screen protection. It comes in more colors than ever.

This charging adapter is all you need to recharge your Pixel, whichever model you have. The newest high-end Pixel phones don't come with chargers in the box, so if you don't have any spare USB-C chargers, it's worth picking one up. This one's prongs fold up, so it's great for travel too.

Dbrand gives you two screen protectors in this package, and when I initially tested it, there was no application tool, so I had to freehand the installation. The current Prism 2.0 version thankfully now comes with a tool, so it should be much easier to align. You get all the other tools in the box to wipe down your phone and ensure there are no specks of dust on it before you install the protector.

Pixels have many great software features, but some need to be toggled on. It can also be hard to remember that all these features exist, so here are most of the top ones.

There are some key features on Pixels that you won't find on any other Android phone. Some of these are available only on select Pixels—the Tensor chip started with the Pixel 6, and currently, the Tensor G4 is in the Pixel 9 range. Here's a breakdown:

Call Screen: When you get a call from an unknown number, Google Assistant will scan and flag it if it's suspected spam or a robocall. If it's simply a number you don't recognize, you can have Assistant take the call. You'll see a real-time transcription of what's happening, so you can end the call right away if it's a telemarketer or answer if it turns out to be a long-lost high school friend. If it's someone important, you can give Assistant responses to recite if you're unable to take the call—it offers up contextual replies now, too. Remember to turn it on by opening up the dialer app and heading to Settings (three dots on the top right) > Spam and Call Screen.

Wait Times and Direct My Call: When you call a business in the phone app, you'll see an estimated wait time until someone real picks up (it doesn't work with every business). Google's Direct My Call feature also transcribes the entire call and separates the menu options so you can see them without having to listen intently to the call. More recently, for some numbers, Direct My Call will cache responses so you'll immediately see menu options without needing to wait for the automated response to go through every number. You can turn this on by going to the phone app's Settings > Direct My Call.

Hold for Me: If you've been placed on hold with a business number, you can ask Google Assistant to take over. It will play a loud chime when the person on the other end is back. No need to listen to hold music! Toggle it on in the phone app's Settings > Hold for Me. This feature is available on most Pixels but only works in select countries, including the US, Australia, Japan, the UK, and Canada.

Clear Calling: If you have a Pixel 7 or newer, you can turn on this feature to enhance the other caller's voice and reduce their background noise. Head to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Clear Calling to toggle it on. It also works on Google's Pixel Buds Pro.

Call Notes (Tensor G4 and newer; with 12-plus GB RAM): You can enable this in the dialer app by going to Settings > Call Notes and making sure the toggle is on. This doesn't activate every time you're on a call. Rather, you have to tap the More button when you're on a call and tap Call Notes to start it. It more or less records the conversation (it notifies the other person that the call is being recorded), and at the end, it'll give you a summary of important points from the call right in the call history log, such as price quotes, phone numbers, or addresses. Sometimes it gets information wrong, as the accuracy of the transcription depends on the call quality, but you can play back the entire recording yourself to double-check.

Scam Detection: This feature detects conversation patterns as you are on the phone with a suspicious number to warn you when someone is deploying a classic scam tactic. It also works in Google's Messages app. You can turn it on by going to the phone app, then tapping the three-dot menu icon at the top right, and hitting Settings > Scam Detection.

Reverse Phone Number Lookup: Don't recognize the phone number from an incoming call? In the call app, you can now quickly look up a number without having to manually run a search yourself.

Take a Message (Tensor G5): Google is revamping voicemails with Take a Message. It's similar to transcribed voicemails, though that feature doesn't always work and may depend on your carrier. Take a Message bypasses the standard voicemail (your normal voicemail will only kick in with missed calls when your phone is off or out of network). The caller will be told to leave a message, and this recording will be auto-transcribed, visible right in the call history of the phone app. It'll even offer actionable steps, like adding a reminder or an event to your calendar.

Pixel VIPs: This is a new widget that gives you one-tap access to your favorite contacts. But it's more than that. Tap on one of your contacts and you'll see a beautifully designed page that offers quick access to call the contact and message them on various platforms. It'll show the last messages between you two, share location, weather updates, and the time for their area, and you can add notes if you want to remember specific things. You can access this the same way you add a widget; it sits under the Contacts app.

Translated Phone Calls in Your Voice (Tensor G5): You can translate a phone call in real time, but what makes Google's approach unique is that the company will make the translated voice sound like your own (or the person on the other end). That way, it still sounds like you're talking to someone you know, rather than a robotic voice. No audio is recorded, and data isn't stored (it works on-device). It's only available for a few languages, like English, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

Live Translate: In select messaging apps, Pixels will automatically know when someone sends a message in a language other than your default. It'll translate it (if you wish), and you'll be able to respond in that same language. More than 50 languages are supported, though you'll need to download the languages you want to see translated by heading to Settings > System > Live Translate.

Live Caption: Pixels can automatically transcribe any video playing on the screen. You can quickly toggle this on by tapping one of the volume buttons and tapping on the square button below the volume slider (or head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Live Caption). If the video is in a different language, you can even see it translated (only on Tensor-powered Pixels), though you'll need to download one of the supported languages. It can even caption phone calls.

Assistant Voice Typing: Tap the mic button on Google's Gboard keyboard, and you'll be privy to the much-improved voice-typing experience enabled by the Tensor chip. It's really fast, pretty accurate, and knows how to automatically add punctuation. It understands when to send a message if you say “Send,” and commands like “Next” will move the cursor to the next paragraph. You can make sure this is enabled by heading to Settings > System > Language & Input > On-Screen Keyboard > Gboard > Voice typing > Assistant Voice Typing.

Dual Screen Interpreter Mode (Pixel folding phones only): When you trigger this mode in the Google Translate app on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold (or any Pixel Fold), the person you're speaking to can read your translated words on the exterior screen. They can also tap the screen to start speaking, and you'll see their translated words on the inner screen.

Google Recorder: If you record interviews, meetings, calls, or anything else, you'll love the Google Recorder app. It's exclusive to Pixels, and it offers real-time transcription so you don't need to take notes. You can open these notes in a Google Doc to edit them later or tap on a word to jump to the point it was spoken in the recording. Google has added speaker labels so the transcription will try to detect when different people are talking and indicate as such. Recordings can be shared with anyone, even if they don't have a Pixel. Better yet, you can automatically back these up to your Google Account to access them anywhere (or find them here). You can also summarize (and download) these transcripts with Gemini. Google recently added the ability to add music tracks, too, in case you like using the app to record singing.

Voice Message Transcription: If you frequently get audio messages in the Messages texting app, then you'll be happy to know that these messages will automatically transcribe, so you won't have to listen to the audio message. The transcription can be hit or miss, but it's still handy. It only works in Google Messages and is available in select languages; it's available on the Pixel 4A and newer. Turn it on by heading to the Messages app and tapping on your profile icon. Then tap Messages Settings > Voice Message Transcription, and toggle it on.

Gemini Assistant: Google's default assistant is now Gemini instead of Google Assistant. Gemini is more powerful and can handle almost all the same tasks and more. Gemini isn't exclusive to Pixels, but these handsets are some of the few to use Gemini Nano, Google's on-device large language model that doesn't need to access the cloud. Some Gemini Nano capabilities have expanded to other capable Android phones, but Pixels often have exclusive perks before the competition.

Multimodal capabilities in Gemini: When you open Gemini (pressing and holding the power button) while in another app, you can ask it to “Attach” whatever's on your screen. That can include asking Gemini to summarize a YouTube video or asking questions about a PDF. You can also upload your own photos and files to Gemini to ask questions about them. Just tap the plus icon next to the Gemini search bar.

Gemini Live (Gemini Advanced): This is a way of talking to Google's Gemini chatbot, except it's completely in real time, like a normal human conversation. You can interrupt Gemini; it will understand context, so you can keep asking it new questions about the same topic, and it sounds so much more natural than voice assistants that came before. You can even turn on your camera and ask Gemini Live questions about what you're looking at in real time. Google also added visual overlays that let Gemini highlight specific items in your camera view to identify what it's referring to more easily.

Magic Cue (Tensor G5): This feature works in the Messages app and in Gboard. Once you opt in, it will find relevant information from your Google apps that come up in conversations. For example, if your mom sends a text asking for your flight information, Magic Cue will have it ready to go as a little button above the textbox, so you don't need to look anything up yourself. It'll even pull up relevant details, like your flight confirmation number, if you're calling United. You can dig into the settings for it by heading to Settings > Magic Cue.

Pixel Studio (Tensor G4 and newer): This new app lets you generate images via text prompts. You can then create stickers from your photos and inject them into these images, and overlay the whole thing with text (great for creating custom party invites). These stickers are also stored in Gboard, so you can quickly toss them into chats.

Pixel Screenshots (Tensor G4 and newer; with 12-plus GB RAM): Got tons of screenshots saved on your phone? The Pixel Screenshots app puts them all in one place, and it uses on-device machine learning (Gemini Nano) to understand the context in them, from pictures to text. That means you can then just ask Gemini information from a screenshot without having to hunt through hundreds of pictures. You can also add screenshots of tickets or boarding passes to Google Wallet from the app.

NotebookLM: Anyone can download this app right now, but NotebookLM is preinstalled on Pixel 10 devices. It's a note-taking app infused with Gemini, but the AI is trained only on your local documents and nothing from the wider internet.

Magic Compose in Messages: You can get a different draft of something you've typed up in Gboard in case you're unsure about your message's tone. It only works in select apps, like Google Messages. Start typing and you'll see a pencil icon with a star next to it near the text box. Tap it and you can now cycle through versions of your sentence in different tones, and you can even choose genres like Shakespeare in case you want to hark back to the past. This feature is available on Pixel 6 and newer, but on the Pixel 8 Pro it works on-device.

Pixel Weather: Finally, there's a dedicated weather app on Pixel phones. It's not just a basic app, though—it uses Gemini's large language models to summarize outdoor conditions so you don't have to scan highs and lows. Also, a recent update added a pollen tracker to see pollen index levels, handy for the upcoming spring season.

Saved info in Gemini: Gemini Advanced subscribers can ask the assistant to remember certain things. You can ask Gemini to remember that you're a vegan, for example, and any future recipes you ask for will be vegan.

Veo 3: Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro users get a full year of Google's AI Pro subscription included in their purchase, which includes Veo 3. It's Google's generative video platform, allowing you to type in ideas and craft short videos. You can find this by opening Gemini and choosing Video below the textbox.

Camera Coach (Tensor G5): Tap the camera icon at the top of the camera app, and you'll trigger Camera Coach. It'll ask you to scan the scene, and will offer example photographs in case you're not sure how to take a good photo. Choose one of those examples, and Camera Coach will run you through instructions on taking a similar version of that photo. This can include asking you to switch to Portrait mode, to zoom in, or even shift your position and angle.

Pro Res Zoom (Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL): On the Pixel 10 Pro models, you can now zoom up to 100x, and Google's Pro Res Zoom will capture more than 200 frames, blend them all for sharpness and denoising, and will even generate some frames of what it thinks should be there. The result is a shockingly sharp photo considering the digital zoom level. How real it is, well, that's a different question.

Edits With Ask Photos (Pixel 10 series): This feature is starting with the Pixel 10 but will eventually make its way to other devices. When you tap edit on a photo, you'll now see a textbox that lets you ask the phone to make edits on your behalf. (You can still manually edit photos.) You can be super specific—ask it to remove the plastic bag in the background—or vague: “Make this look better,” or “Fix the lighting.”

Hands-Free Photos: If you have a Pixel 6 or newer, you can take a hands-free photo by showing your open palm to the camera. Once the camera detects your palm (it'll show a square icon over it), it'll trigger a timer.

Magic Editor: This feature has morphed into the general Actions tab when you edit a photo, but some other capabilities are spread throughout the edit functions. You're given free rein to change up the photo in a variety of ways, like selecting subjects and moving them in the frame. You can also find it by tapping Edit on a photo, then tapping and holding anywhere on the image.

Magic Eraser: In the Google Photos app, you can remove objects in the background of your photos (even those not captured on Pixels). Just tap the Edit button and head to Actions > Magic Eraser. It will automatically suggest things to remove, or you can highlight the object with your finger. You can also change the color of a distracting object instead of removing it entirely. It's available on all Pixel phones.

Astrophotography mode: Set your Pixel on a tripod (something like this will work), point it at the sky, open the camera, and go to Night Sight mode. Once the phone detects that it's completely still and on a tripod, you'll see Astrophotography mode kick in. Tap the shutter button, and within three to five minutes, you'll have a photo of the stars. Ideally, you should be in a dark area with little light pollution, but it'll work wherever you are. Don't touch the phone—just let it do its thing until the timer ends. You can also force this feature by opening the camera app, heading to the Night Sight tab, tapping on the moon or star symbol on the bottom right, and moving the slider to “Astro.”

Super-Res Zoom: If you're taking a picture of something far away, use two fingers to pinch and zoom in up to 30x, then snap the photo. Google uses software wizardry to upscale the quality of digitally zoomed-in photos so you see a lot more detail. On the Pixel 7 series and newer, this process has improved further, as Google is fusing the images from the main camera and telephoto.

Zoom Enhance (Tensor G3 and newer): Much like the old CSI shows when someone says, “Enhance,” this feature generates pixels in distant objects to make them appear sharper. You can enable it by going to a photo and tapping Edit > Tools > Zoom Enhance. You'll need to zoom in on an area of the image, then let it do its magic.

Best Take (Tensor G3 and newer): If you snap a series of photos of a group of people within a short time frame, you will get the option to switch their faces! This is weird but truly helpful if folks are blinking, not smiling, or not looking right at the camera. Perhaps one of the other frames from the photos will have captured the right face you want. You can use this feature by pressing edit on a photo, and heading to Tools > Best Take. In the Pixel 10 series, this has been upgraded to Auto Best Take, where the phone captures a series of photos automatically when it detects two or more people in the shot. That way, you don't need to make any changes after capture to get the perfect photo—it should already be in your camera library.

Auto Frame in Magic Editor (Tensor G4 and newer): In a photo, tap on the Edit icon, then tap on the ruler icon at the top left. Choose Auto Frame. This will now generate a few different options of the same photo, but in different compositions. It might generate a little bit of extra imagery to the right or left of the subject to change the framing, or even give you a horizontal orientation if you shot vertically.

Add Me (Tensor G4 and newer): If you and your partner are traveling and there's no one around to take a picture of you both in front of a landmark (or you don't want someone to run off with your phone), just use Add Me. One person takes the photo, then swaps places with the other, but you'll have to make it seem like you were standing next to each other. The resulting image is the two photos stitched together, and no one is the wiser. This is available in the camera app as the Add Me tab. Google updated the feature in the Pixel 10 to work better with big groups and pets.

Reimagine (Tensor G4 and newer): This terrifyingly powerful feature lets you completely change a photo with text. Open an image, press Edit, then tap and hold anywhere on the photo to see the overflow menu, and choose Reimagine. You'll be prompted to type some text in. There are guardrails, so you can't just expect anything to work, but you can alter the sky or time of day, add the moon, or even change a road into a lake. It's scarily easy.

Audio Magic Eraser (Tensor G3 and newer): Have an annoying sound in the background of your video clip? Pixels can now erase unwanted audio! It works with only a few types of sounds, like crowds, sirens, and animals, but you can access and give it a try by hitting Edit in a video and tapping on Audio Magic Eraser. A recent update enabled the ability to turn specific sounds up or down and even separate the voices of different people.

Video Boost (Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro only): This feature is exclusive to the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro series; it allows you to improve the quality of your videos. In the video tab of the camera app, press the gear icon on the left in video mode and toggle on Video Boost. (You can also just switch to the Night Sight tab in Video mode for it to automatically kick in.) Now take a video; you'll have to wait for this clip to be processed in Google's cloud. Once done—it could take an hour, or you may have to wait overnight, depending on the size of the file—the clip should be brighter, with better stabilization, less noise, and more vivid colors. It's particularly useful in low-light settings. You can still utilize the original clip if you want to share it immediately. The Pixel 10 Pro upscales this feature to 8K recording.

Photo Unblur (Tensor G2 and newer): You can unblur old (or new) photos in your library with the tap of a button. The results will vary, but it's impressive and might make that unusable photo something you'll want to share. It'll work with cats and dogs. On the photo you want to unblur, press Edit > Actions > Unblur.

Portrait Light: You can change up the lighting in your portrait selfies after you take them by opening them up in Google Photos, tapping the Edit button, and heading to Actions > Portrait Light. This adds an artificial light you can place anywhere in the photo to brighten up your face and erase that 5 o'clock shadow. Use the slider at the bottom to tweak the strength of the light. It also works on older Portrait mode photos you may have captured. It works only on faces.

Cough & Snore Detection (Tensor G2 and newer): On the Pixel 7 and newer, you can have your Pixel detect if you cough and snore when sleeping, provided you place your Pixel near your bed before you nod off. This will work only if you use Google's Bedtime Mode function, which you can turn on by heading to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls > Bedtime Mode.

Guided Frame (Tensor G2 and newer): For blind or low-vision people, the camera app can now help take a selfie with audio cues (it works with the front and rear cameras). You'll need to enable TalkBack for this to work (Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack). Then open the camera app. It will automatically help you frame the shot.

Simple View: This mode makes the font size bigger, along with other elements on the screen, like widgets and quick settings tiles. It also increases touch sensitivity, all of which hopefully makes it easier to see and use the screen. You can enable it by heading to Settings > Accessibility > Simple View.

Theft Protection: This is a broader Android 15 feature, but essentially, Google's algorithms can figure out if someone snatches your Pixel out of your hands. If they're trying to get away, the device automatically locks. Additionally, with another device, you can use Remote Lock to lock your stolen Pixel with your phone number and a security answer. To toggle these features on, go to Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Theft protection.

Identity Check: If your Pixel detects you're in a new location, Identity Check will require your fingerprint or face authentication before you can make any changes to sensitive settings, offering extra peace of mind in case you lose your phone or if it's stolen. You can enable this in Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Theft protection > Identity Check.

Private Space: Another Android 15 addition, Pixel phones finally have a feature that lets you hide and lock select apps. You can use a separate Google account, set a lock, and install any app to hide away. To set it all up, head to Settings > Security & privacy > Private space.

Satellite eSOS (Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series, excluding Pixel 9a): Like Apple's SOS feature on iPhones, you can now reach emergency contacts or emergency services even when you don't have cell service or Wi-Fi connectivity. It's not just available in the continental US, but also in Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and even Europe.

Car Crash Detection: Hopefully, you never have to use this feature. As the name suggests, Pixel phones can tell when you've been in a serious crash with the help of mics and motion sensors. Turn it on in the Personal Safety app (or Settings > Safety & Emergency), and if a crash is detected, your phone will check to see whether you're OK. If there's no response, it can share your location with emergency responders and emergency contacts. It works in select countries.

Find My Device (Tensor G3 and newer): Select Pixels can be tracked via the company's Find My Device app even if the battery is dead or the phone is off, making it easier to find if you've left it behind or if someone stole it. (Your location data is encrypted and private from Google.)

Built-in VPN (Pixel 7 and newer): With the Pixel 7 and newer, you have access to a VPN (virtual private network). It'll encrypt your traffic to give you peace of mind. You can access it for free for as long as the phones receive updates.

Circle to Search: This is Google's way to run a Google Search on practically anything—whether you're reading a news story on the web, looking at a photo on Instagram, or watching a video on TikTok. Just press and hold the home button (the pill-shaped bar if you are using gesture navigation), and circle anything on the screen you want to search. An overlay menu will pop up with search results, and you can add text to add to the search query. You can even use it to identify music that's playing within your apps, like TikTok or Instagram, and ask follow-up questions.

Display Port Support (Tensor G3 and newer): You can finally connect your Pixel phone to an external monitor by using a data-supported USB-C cable.

Quick Phrases: When the alarm goes off, you can just say “Stop” or “Snooze” instead of fumbling for your phone. This applies when you get a phone call: Just say “Answer,” “Decline,” or “Silence.” You can make sure this is toggled on by launching Assistant and saying “Assistant settings.” Then scroll to Quick Phrases. It works in select other languages, too.

Pixel Journal (Pixel 10): Google's new Journal app lets you jot down your thoughts, add images, and it'll offer up reflections on the words you write. It will also offer prompts based on the goals you create during setup, in case you're at a loss on what to write. It will likely make its way to older Pixel phones later on.

Daily Hub (Pixel 10): Similar to Samsung's Now Brief feature, this Daily Hub is nestled in Google Discover, but will also show up in the At a Glance widget a few times a day. It'll give you upcoming calendar events, reminders powered by Magic Cue, and even suggest new activities to try based on your Google Search history.

Now Playing: Ever hear a song at the coffee shop and wonder who it's by? Now Playing uses on-device machine learning to figure out what the music is in your background, and it will display the artist and title on the lock screen (or in your notifications). It doesn't require an internet connection, so there's no data shared between you and Google. This isn't turned on by default, so head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Now Playing and toggle it on. You can even turn on Now Playing History in case you forgot to write down an artist's name when you saw it earlier. Google added a button you can press in case Now Playing doesn't automatically identify a song, sorta like Shazam.

Adaptive Vibration (Tensor G2 and newer): You can toggle this on by heading to Settings > Sound & vibration > Vibration & haptics > Adaptive vibration. It will auto-adjust the vibration strength based on where the phone is, so if the environment is quiet, the vibration may not be as loud as usual, and vice versa.

Photomoji: You can create sticker reactions from any picture in Google Messages. Just press and hold on to a message and tap the Create button. Choose a photo or take a new one, and it'll automatically crop out the subject. Now you can use that as a sticker reaction to any message!

Body Temperature Sensor (Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro only): The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro have a thermometer you can use to take the temperature of an object, but an update has enabled the ability to take the temperature of a person. Just open the thermometer app, point the sensor at the forehead, and scan. You can save the results to the Fitbit app. Google received the FDA's De Novo classification for this feature, though you should know that the results might not be all that accurate.

Quick Tap: Head over to Settings > System > Gestures > Quick Tap to enable it. It lets you double-tap the upper back of your Pixel (Pixel 4A 5G or newer) to trigger a function. That includes flipping the camera for a selfie, turning on the flashlight, sliding down the notification bar, or, exclusive to Pixels, starting a Snap on Snapchat.

Device as a Webcam: You can use your Pixel phone as a webcam if you connect it to your laptop or desktop via a cable. This works on the Pixel 6 and newer.

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